Real estate comparator with lock



R966 L. E. sTANmsH 3,2693% REAL ESTATE COMPARATOR WITH LOCK Filed Feb. 7, 1964 5 Sheets-$heet l INVENTOR. LAWRENCE E. STANDHSH A TTORNEYS.

1966 L. E. STANDISH REAL ESTATE COMPARATOR WITH LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1964 INVENTOR LAWRENCE E. sTANdlsH BY ATTORNEYS.

Aug 3% W66 L. E. STANDISH REAL ESTATE COMPARATOR WITH LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. '7, 1964 I l I I --4 United States Patent 3,259,390 REAL ESTATE COMPARATOR WITH LGCK Lawrence E. Standish, Alexandria, Va. (Box 103, Annandale, Va.) Filied Feb. 7, 19641, Ser. No. 343,332 Claims. (Ci. 129-46) My invention relates to a comparator for examining the resemblances or differences of two or more real property units. The characteristics and qualities of real property units, such as houses, are identified and recorded on special cards which may be removably hinged to a base member so that a bottom edge portion defining a comparator zone may be exposed and visually collated with similar comparator zones on other cards. More specifically, my comparator is a combination of intelligence carrying cards hinged to downwardly depending legs of a hinge means in a base member with lock means cooperating with the hinge means to maintain the cards in place when they are flipped over for more detailed study.

My invention is particularly directed .to a comparator which facilitates the collation of details of related houses ctor the purpose of fair and equitable evaluation for taxation purposes. In growing communities, houses of similar design and value are built in scattered areas within a county and the time and effort required to bring details of the house units into comparison with each other is very burdensome and fraught with many possibilities of error. Due to the many varying factors involved, great reliance is placed on personnel working in this field; complicated machines cannot be economically utilized in most situations. My invention enables the more productive utilization of the highly qualified personnel in this field.

My invention employs cards on which are recorded details and identification of the property, the bottom edge portion of each card defining a comparator zone which is visible and aligned with other comparator zones of other cards when the cards are mounted in superim posed relationship. The comparator zones include among other critical data, key information and opinion notations which can be collated with similar notations on other cards to facilitate the comparison of information on which taxation is determined.

Specifically, a record zone at the upper portion of each card carries the name of the subdivision, map number, record of sales or rental, basic type of dwelling and components, improvements, depreciated value, value of land, value of improvements, and total property value. The comparator zone at the bottom edge portion of each card carries key data and appraisals such as an indication of quality, type of exterior, interior, heat, rooms, baths, also square feet, year built, depreciation, cost when new, rent if any, marketability appraisal, and notation as to reasonableness of appraisal. :The information in each comparator zone may be coded and color may be used to signify certain standards and variations therefrom to aid in visual collation.

My invention provides a comparator device which together with the special cards of my invention provides a comparator suitable for use particularly in the real estate field. The base member provides open hook hinge means with depending free legs which pass over and through hinge apertures in the cards. The cards are maintained in an elevated position by a lock means so 3,269,390 Patented August 30, 1966 that the hinge apertures can not pass below the bottom ends of the free legs of the hinge means. Moving means are provided for unlocking the lock means to allow the cards to be changed.

The above purposes and objects as well as others of my invention will become more apparent from the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my comparator with certain cards and parts cut-away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the left portion of FIG. 2 with the moving means in the unlock position to enable card replacement;

FIG. 5 is an end view taken on line 5'5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a modification of my comparator;

FIG. 7 is a side view taken on line'7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an end view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5 it will be seen that the base member it includes a top indicated by numeral 11 made up of transverse pins 12 and open book hinge means 14, the pins 12 defining a series of similar transverse slots 15 in the top 11. The open book hinge means 14 includes downwardly projecting free legs 16, each leg having a top portion 17 positioned at about the level of the top 11 of the base member lit.

Each intelligence carrying card 18 is provided with a comparator zone 19 along its bottom edge portion, the longitudinal width of this zone 19 determining the longitudinal spacing of the transverse slots 15 and the rows of free legs 16 positioned therein. The upper or remainder portion of each card forms the record zone 21 (FIG. 1) which can be quickly exposed and referred to by merely flipping the preceding cards over. The terms top and bottom are used to facilitate description; it will be recognized that the terms side and side could also be used. It is only necessary that the comparator zone 19 be opposite the hinge apertures 20, at the top transverse edge ot" each card 18. In the embodiment shown, the bottom edge of each card 18 is parallel to its top hinge edge, however an angular or complex angular or curvilinear bottom edge could be employed, it only being necessary that the shape and size of the cards be the same or related in a predetermined fashion.

Look means 22 includes two longitudinal bars 23, 23 preferably positioned between the two longitudinal rows of free legs 16. Moving means 24 is provided for causing relative movement of base member 10 and lock means 21 between a lock position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and an unlock position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The moving means 24 includes a series of links 25 depending from bars 2 3 and pivo-tally interconnecting the bars 23 with the base member It); it being noted that links 25 provide pivoted connections at each of their ends. Operating shaft 26 extends longitudinally from a transverse cross rod 27 connecting the two bars 23 and terminates outwa-rdly of the transverse end wall 28 of the base member in a knob 29.

When the lock means 22 is in the lock position of FIGS. 2 and 3, a card 18 can be flipped over, the card controlling portion 36 of the lock means 22 engaging and supporting the card to prevent the hinge apertures 20 from becoming disengaged from the free legs 16. The card controlling portions 30 project above the bottom of the free legs 16 when in the lock position to accomplish their card supporting function. Upon pushing knob 29, the lock means 22 pivots downwardly and thereby moves the two bars 23 downwardly. The cards may then be flipped to a somewhat vertical position a shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and removed from the free legs 16. The card controlling portions 36 are moved below the bottom of said free legs 16 when moved to the unlock position to release the cards.

In the embodiment shown, the hinge portion 31 (FIG. 5) extending beyond the aperturezil therefore is formed by the material of the card itself, and is of a predetermined longitudinal width from the top or edge of the hinge aperture 20. Coacting with thi hinge portion 31 and the bars 23 are control notches 32, 32 in each card longitudinally aligned for supported engagement with the bars when the cards are flipped. As seen in FIG. 3, the V control notch 32 of card 18 matingly slides over the inverted V bar 23 when it is flipped. However, when unlocked as shown in FIG. 5, the V control notch 32 loses its supporting control of the card since the bars 23 are lowered below the free legs 16 and the hinge apertures are released from confinement on the free ends 16.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in FIGS. 68 wherein the operation of the lock means is generally similar to that just described but wherein the longitudinal bars of the lock means serve the further purpose of providing supporting structure for the cards when the cards are in flat superimposed relationship.

In FIGS. 6-8, the base member includes a top indicated by numeral 51 made up of the top edges of transverse vertical plates 52 and open hook hinge means 54, the plates 52 defining a series of similar transverse slots 55 in the top 51. The free legs 56 of the open hook hinge means 54 have a substantially fiat top portion 57 positioned at about the level of the top 51.

The cards are provided with comparator zones at their bottom edge portions and binge apertures 60, 60 and control notches 61, 6d at their top edge portions, these features being the same as previously described with regard to FIGS. 15. The showing of the card in FIG. 8 is in phantom for purposes of clarity only; it will be understood that the comparator would include cards as previously described.

The base member 5t includes two outer longitudinal rows of transverse plates 52, these outer plates being vertically and transversely aligned with the plates 63 of the center longitudinal row when the lock means 64 is in locked position. The transverse plates 63 are joined at their ends to the longitudinal plates or bars 65, 65 which provide the card controlling portions 66 of the lock means 64. An operating handle 69 extends about the full length of and from one end of base member 50 and through a series of pivot links 70 pivotally interconnects the moving means 71 with the lock means 64 to enable relative movement between the base member 50 and the lock means 64. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the lock means 64 as being made up of the two outer longitudinal bars 65 and the series of center transverse plates 63 spacers '72 being positioned therebetween; the resultant integrated unit is movable as a rigid unit between side bearings '73 and end bearings 74 in response to the moving means '71.

FIG. 8 shows a card 18 in phantom in a locked condition, the card being fiipped to a vertical position whereby its V control notches 61 matingly engage the top card controlling portions of the bars 65 which are positioned above the bottom of the free legs 56 when in lock position. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the preferred position as being at the same level as the tops of plates 52 of the base member to provide a smooth latticework support for the cards. The lock means 64 when moved to the unlock position by outward movement of handle 69 is slid downwardly until the card controlling portions of the bars 65 are below the bottom of the free legs 56 to enable replacement of the cards.

The base member 10 in FIG. 1 includes a platform 9 for supporting the cards at the lower end thereof; the base member 50 of FIGS. 6 and 7 includes a cover 49 which provides a platform 48, 48 at each end for supporting the cards.

I claim:

1. A device receiving cards each having two hinge apertures and a control notch at one transverse edge comprising a base member having a top and equally spaced transverse slots therein,

said base member including open hook hinge means having two downwardly projecting free legs positioned in each slot, each leg having a top portion positioned at about the level of the top of said base member having hinging action wtih its respective hinge aper-,

ture of a card,

lock means comprising a bar extending longitudinally of said device and at right angles to the length of said transverse slots,

moving means for moving said longitudinal bar on said base member between a lock position and an unlock position, said means moving said bar linearly towards and away from said top,

said bar having a card controlling portion which when in lock position projects above the bottom of the free legs and is received in said control notch of a card when a card is flipped to prevent release of the card from said hinge means, said control portion substantially corresponding to the shape of said notches to prevent shifting of the cards when flipped,

said card controlling portion of said bar when in said unlock position being below the bottom of said free legs for reception of the control notch of a card to facilitate removal of the card from said hinge means.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 and wherein each of said cards has two control notches at 'one transverse edge thereof and said lock means includes two longitudinal bars, the top edges of which being in the plane of the top of the base member when in said lock position, segments of said top edges providing said card controlling portions.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 and wherein said lock means includes two longitudinal bars, and said moving means includes a series of links depending from said bars and pivotally interconnecting said bars with said base member.

4. A device receiving cards each having two hinge apertures and two control notches at one transverse edge comprising a base member having a top and equally spaced transverse slots therein and having two outer longitudinal rows of a series of equally spaced vertical transverse plates,

said base member including open book hinge means having two downwardly projecting free legs positioned in each slot, each leg having a top portion positioned at about the level of the top of said base member having hinging action with its respective hinge aperture of a card,

lock means on said base member comprising two longitudinal bars, a center longitudinal row of spaced vertical transverse plates extending between said longitudinal bars, said center row and said bars disposed between said outer rows,

moving means for moving said center row and said longitudinal bars as a unit on said base member between a lock and unlock position,

said means moving said unit linearly toward and away from said top,

said longitudinal bar having card controlling portions which when in lock position project above the bottom of the free legs and are received in said control notches when the cards are flipped to prevent release of the cards from said hinge means,

said card controlling portions of said lock means when in said unlock position being below the bottom of said free legs for reception of their respective control notches to facilitate removal of the cards from said hinge means, the top edges of said vertical transverse plates being in substantially the same plane as the top portion of said free legs to provide support for said cards when the cards are in flat relationship to the base member. 5. A device as defined in claim 4 and wherein said moving means includes a series of links pivotally interconnecting said lock means with said base member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED JEROME SCHNALL,

STATES PATENTS Beckwith 40102 Ralph 129-16.1 Whitlock 120-24 Dumont 129-16 Whitlock 129-16 Forsyth et al. 129-16 Primary Exam iner. 

1. A DEVICE RECEIVING CARDS EACH HAVING TWO HINGE APERTURES AND A CONTROL NOTCH AT ONE TRANSVERSE EDGE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING A TOP AND EQUALLY SPACED TRANSVERSE SLOTS THEREIN, SAID BASE MEMBER INCLUDING OPEN HOOK HINGE MEANS HAVING TWO DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING FREE LEGES POSITIONED IN EACH SLOT, EACH LEG HAVING A TOP PORTION POSITIONED AT ABOUT THE LEVEL OF THE TOP OF SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING HINGING ACTION WITH ITS RESPECTIVE HINGE APERTURE OF A CARD, LOCK MEANS COMPRISING A BAR EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID DEVICE AND AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LENGTH OF SAID TRANSVERSE SLOTS, MOVING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LONGITUDINAL BAR ON SAID BASE MEMBER BETWEEN A LOCK POSITION AND AN UNLOCK POSITION, SAID MEANS MOVING SAID BAR LINEARLY TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID TOP, SAID BAR HAVING A CARD CONTROLLING PORTION WHICH WHEN IN LOCK POSITION PROJECTS ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE FREE LEGS AND IS RECEIVED IN SAID CONTROL NOTCH OF A CARD WHEN A CARD IS FLIPPED TO PREVENT RELEASE OF THE CARD FROM SAID HINGE MEANS, SAID CONTROL PORTION SUB- 